52 MEMOIR OF THE KILKENNY HUNT. 



Mr. John Wade hunted with the Kilkenny Hounds 

 for the best part of fifty years, and probably saw 

 more good runs than any man of his time. He 

 rode hard and well, was a thorough sportsman, a 

 good judge of hounds and horses, and had a great 

 knowledge of hunting, and a keen love for it. 



Mr. Flood rode fearlessly, and kept the field till 

 past the "allotted span." He had a famous horse 

 called Carlow, which had belonged to Mr. Blackwood 

 Hamilton, a relative of Lord Dufferin, and acquired 

 him in the following manner : Mr. Blackwood 

 Hamilton had been hunting in Kilkenny, and, a frost 

 setting in, left his horse at the Club-house and went 

 away. The frost lasted some time, and when it 

 broke up horses had, of course, more or less lost 

 their condition. It chanced that the first day 

 hounds were enabled to hunt the meet was in the 

 Freshford country, and, as is often the case on the 

 break up of frost, scent was good, and they ran 

 hard over the hills round Persse's gorsc, and horses 

 were well pumped, Mr. Blackwood Hamilton's horse 

 dropping lifeless under him. He got back to Kil- 

 kenny as well as he could with saddle and bridle, 

 and at the Club dinner that night was naturally a 

 subject for condolence. Mr. Flood was also dining, 

 and during dinner exclaimed, "I will give you ,15 

 for Carlow's body." Mr. Hamilton told him there 

 was only his skin ; but Mr. Flood persisting in his 

 offer, he closed with him, and the bargain was made. 

 Next morning hounds met somewhere in the same 

 country ; but early in the morning Mr. Flood sent to 

 the Freshford hills, which he caused to be thoroughly 



